The Park Board and project team broke ground on Wednesday, March 12, for the new recreation center at West Ridge Park. The center will feature a 10,000-square-foot gymnastics gym, a 1,500-square-foot dance studio, three state-of-the-art childhood enrichment rooms, a community gathering room, and an event lawn.
“Together we are building an extraordinary recreation center, more importantly we are building community,” said Park Board President Cal Bernstein. “Residents of all ages will fill these spaces to build life skills, friendships, and lasting memories that will sustain for generations to come.”
Estimated completion of the new recreation center at West Ridge Park is early 2026.
Significant progress has been made at the site since the start of the new year. Installation of the new sanitary sewer service and new water service have been completed. Plumbing and electric piping has been installed, and the mechanical units and generators have been connected.
Work has been occuring to prepare for the new electric service. The final step, installing a new transformer, will be conducted by ComEd this week. Once completed, the mechanical units will be tested in preparation for installation of the dome fabric.
Canceled due to the weather.
Staff reviewed Ordinance #2025-02, An Ordinance Amending the Appropriation Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2024 that will transfer a total of $145,000 from Recreation Fund Item Type 610, Salaries and Wages to Recreation Fund Item Types 680, Cost of Goods Sold, 650, Maintenance & Landscaping, and 720, Capital Outlay, in the amounts of $36,000, $100,000, and $10,000, respectively; plus a transfer of $20,000 from General Fund Item Type 610, Salaries and Wages to General Fund Item Type 660, Utilities; lastly, a transfer of $18,459.28 from Special Recreation Fund Item Type 620, Contractual Services to Special Recreation Fund Item Type 720, Capital Outlay.
Staff reviewed Resolution 2025-02 to allow the bidding of electricity for the District from Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative and Satori Energy.
Staff provided construction updates for the New Facility and Site Improvements at West Ridge Park, Club Pickle and Padel, and the Recreation Center of Highland Park (landscaping plan for shared parking lot located at 1207 Park Avenue West, emergency repairs due to flooding, and the proposal from Williams Architects to provide architectural and engineering services for Phase Two of the locker room renovation).
Staff reviewed and provided contractor recommendations for the Park Avenue Dredging bid results and the Larry Fink Tot Lot Renovation bid results.
The Lakota Group (designers, planners, and communication experts), aQity Research and Insights (survey consultant), and BerryDunn (Recreation Services Assessment consultant) held a kickoff meeting for the Greenprint Master Plan Update.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the 2025 Park Avenue Dredging Project Bid, the 2025 Larry Fink Tot Lot Renovation Bid, the New Recreation Facility at West Ridge Park Construction Material Testing Proposal, the Williams Architects Recreation Center of Highland Park Locker Room Shower Area Remodeling Proposal, Ordinance 2025-02 An Ordinance Amending the Appropriation Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2024, Ordinance 2025-03: Authorizing and Providing for the Conveyance or Sale of Surplus Personal Property, and Resolution 2025-02 Authorizing the Purchase of Electricity for Park District Facilities and Meters and Authorizing the Director to Approve a Contract with the Lowest Cost Electricity Provider for a period up to 3 years.
Staff provided an annual report for Heller Nature Center and the Rosewood Interpretive Center comparing budgeted vs actual programming revenues, expenses, and participant utilization.
Sound off! Your dog will help sniff out eggs that are filled with treats special for pups! One handler age 18 or older per dog. All dogs must remain on leash for the entire event, be at least 4 months old to participate, and wear current rabies tags. This event is free; however, owner registration is recommended to receive the detailed information.
All dogs
Sunset Woods Park
1801 Sunset Road
Step into a world of inclusivity and wonder at our Sensory-Friendly Egg Hunt, a heartwarming event that embraces the joy of the season while accommodating the unique needs of individuals with sensory sensitivities. This one-of-a-kind egg hunt is thoughtfully designed to ensure that everyone can join in the fun, fostering an environment of understanding, compassion, and, above all, celebration.
This hunt is specifically for children ages 3-14 with disabilities.
Sunset Woods Park
1801 Sunset Road
Don’t be late for this Very Important Date! Featuring scenes and characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and thousands of plastic eggs filled with treats, the Wonderland Egg Hunt is family fun for children and their parents.
This event for families is free; however, registration is recommended to receive detailed information.
All ages
Sunset Woods Park
1801 Sunset Road
Join us at the Recreation Center of Highland Park’s indoor pool for our Floating Egg Hunt event! There will be hundreds of eggs to swim for and collect, make sure to bring your own basket. Guests are welcomed to stay and swim afterwards until their group time slot is over. The egg hunt begins promptly at the times listed so please arrive early for check-in!
Age Groups (max of 25 per time slot)
*Parents are allowed in the water to help their non-swimming children. Life jackets are available.
Ages 3-10
Recreation Center of Highland Park
1207 Park Avenue West
Join us for an egg-citing twist on the traditional egg hunt—designed just for the “older kids”! Pre-registration is required by March 28th. Each child participant must be registered, and accompanied by an adult (adult need not register).
Ages 8-12
Location: This unique event takes place at night in a secret park location, revealed one week prior to the event. Registered participants will receive all the details ahead of time.
Location – TBD
The STREAM Explorers Spring Break Camp offers a fun experience for children during spring break. Held at West Ridge Center, this camp features a variety of activities in Science, Technology, Recreation, Environment, Art, and More. Participants will engage in hands-on technology projects, creative art activities, exciting recreational games, and environmental explorations. The camp provides an ideal way for kids to spend their spring break, making new friends and exploring new interests in a dynamic and supportive environment.
*Weekend excluded in Spring Break Camp
Ages 5-10
Program is full
Register for one day or all 5!
Get out of the house and hit the courts this spring break.
Drill and play with our pros and also play some games.
Ages 8-14
Ahoy! Become a pirate and follow the tracks in the sand to discover where animals have hidden their treasure. Create treasure boxes to collect our treasures of stones, fossils and sea glass along the shore.
This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Mix, Splatter, Sculpt may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Rosewood between programs.
Ages: 5-10
Using natural elements, sculpt some clay animal figures, crate splatter paintings, and mix up a new color for your nature art pieces.
This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Tracks to Treasures may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Rosewood between programs.
Ages: 5-10
Become a member of the Sasquatch search squad! Follow a map and investigate clues through the forest. Keep alert for signs like footprints and tree markings. Each clue draws you deeper into the mystery: where is the Sasquatch?
This is a drop-off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Incredible Insects may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Heller Nature Center between programs.
Ages: 6-11
Who’s hiding at Heller? Join our Heller naturalists for a day of rolling over logs and peaking under stones to find out what insects live in our woods and what kinds of homes they prefer. Then, we will capture a few to observe before releasing them back into the wild!
This is a drop-off program. Pre-registration is required. The program is outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Sasquatch Search Squad may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Heller Nature Center between programs.
Ages: 6-11
Participants will get a chance to use tools and practice motor skills as they work on a project they get to bring home at the end of the day. When your creation is ready, test it out!
This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Wild Powers may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Rosewood between programs.
Ages: 5-10
Come on a Creature Mission! Imagine that you had the powers of some of our forest animals, how WILD! Learn about some animal characteristics or “powers” that can help us on our wild mission to save our furry forest animals.
This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Make, Create, Build It! may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Rosewood between programs.
Ages: 5-10
Will what you’ve learned in Minecraft help you survive at Heller Nature Center? In this program kids will build bases, build tools, and learn which lessons from Minecraft apply to the real world.
This is a drop-off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Temple of Legends may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Heller between programs.
Ages: 8-12
The challenge is on! Compete in several physical and mental tasks at our teams course in order to grab the treasures being guarded by the temple guards. Beat the challenges both individually and together as a team to see what secret lies under the temple!
This is a drop off program. Pre-registration required. Program is outdoors so please dress for the weather. Participants also attending Minecraft vs. Nature may bring a peanut-free sack lunch and stay at Heller between programs.
Ages: 8-12
Staff shared the AIA Agreement and the Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment between the Park District of Highland Park and the construction manager, W.B. Olsen, for the New Facility and Site Improvements at West Ridge Park. Park District Legal Counsel, Ancel Glink, and representatives from W.B. Olsen, attended tonight’s meeting to answer any questions regarding language, terms, and conditions in the AIA Agreement and the Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved the GMP Amendment with W.B. Olson for construction of the new recreation center at West Ridge Park in the amount of $15,050,498.
Staff reviewed the Club Pickle and Padel app which has been released to Deer Creek Racquet Club Members, Recreation Center of Highland Park Members, and Danny Cunniff park outdoor court users to promote the new facility, outdoor court reservations at Danny Cunniff Park, membership options, upcoming clinics and events. Staff are promoting the app through ParkLine, the PDHP website, and social media channels to attract new members.
Staff provided construction updates for development of Club Pickle and Padel, the New Facility and Site Improvements at West Ridge Park, emergency repairs for the Recreation Center of Highland Park and Signage for 1207 Park Avenue West, Park Avenue South Parking Lot restoration and updated Signage for the Park Avenue Beach and Boating Facility.
The Park District received two proposals in response to the 2025 Master Plan Review and Revision Request for Proposals issued in November 2024. The purpose of the RFP is to hire a consultant to update the existing PDHP master Plan to provide direction on future planning initiatives for the next 5-10 years. Staff reviewed the proposals.
Staff reviewed the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract with Landscape Structures, Inc., to purchase playground equipment for Larry Fink Park.
On December 2, 2024, The Recreation Center of Highland Park experienced a leak in a water line that feeds one of the water fountains on the fitness floor. The water damage and subsequent property loss was substantial. Since fitness flooring has long lead time to procure staff ordered the replacement flooring on January 16 in effort to reopen the facility as soon as possible. Staff will be requesting approval of a Resolution at the Regular Meeting of the Park Board, ratifying the waiving of competitive bidding for the procurement of materials for emergency restoration and preservation measures.
A public hearing was held for the 2025 budget.
The Park Board of Commissioners approved a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract for Playground Equipment for Larry Fink Park, Resolution 2025-01 Ratifying the Waiving of Competitive Bidding for the Procurement of Materials for Emergency Restoration and Preservation Measures, Ordinance 2025-01: Combined Budget and Appropriation Beginning January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, and a Professional Services Agreement with the Lakota Group for Master Plan Development.
Staff provided an end of season report for Highland Park Golf Learning Center and Sunset Valley Golf Club comparing budgeted vs actual revenues, expenses, and utilization.
The Park Board of Commissioners released a portion of the Closed Session minutes from August 21, 2024 (Pertaining to Section 2(c)21). The Closed Session minutes from July 17, 2024 Workshop Meeting, August 14, 2024 Facility and recreation Committee Meeting, a portion of the August 21, 2024 Workshop Meeting, August 28, 2024 Regular Meeting, October 30, 2024 Regular Meeting, and November 13, 2024 Regular Meeting shall not be released for public inspection since the need for confidentiality still exists as to all or part of those minutes.
The City of Highland Park (City) and the Park District of Highland Park (Park District) announce plans for community events during the Independence Day holiday. New this year, Independence Day festivities will begin on July 3 with the Park District’s festival for all ages. The City’s “Dream Team”-themed parade, which includes entertainment coordinated by the Park District, will bring vibrant community spirit to Downtown Highland Park when it steps off at 11am on July 4. Cognizant of the importance of dedicating time for reflection and support, the City will also coordinate a remembrance in the morning.
“Highland Park’s Independence Day events reflect the community’s patriotic spirit and steadfast commitment to supporting and celebrating each other,” said Mayor Nancy Rotering. “This year’s parade theme reminds us that teams bring people together in support of a common goal, and that we are most resilient when we support each other.”
“Celebrating this national holiday with our loved ones is crucial to our community’s identity,” said Cal Bernstein, president of the Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners. “It is an opportunity to come together to share special moments with our neighbors and friends while we celebrate our nation.”
A drone or fireworks show is not being organized by the City in 2025. Recognizing the diverse array of community needs to balance, particularly as it pertains to community trauma, sustainability concerns, and pet needs, at this time, the City Council supported a pause on evening events for further community discussion. The City will request community engagement and feedback later this year as City staff plan for 2026.
As Independence Day events have evolved over the past two years, the City and Park District have applied a trauma-informed approach with guidance from the Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime and community-based mental health clinicians. The approach reflects a commitment to building community resiliency in reclaiming Highland Park’s Independence Day traditions while continuing to provide compassionate support.
The Park District of Highland Park will commence Independence Day activities with a community festival on Thursday, July 3, at Highland Park’s largest outdoor community park – The Preserve of Highland Park (1207 Park Ave. W). This year’s reimagined celebration will be the kick-off to a variety of inclusive Independence Day-themed activities continuing July 4th and throughout the weekend. The July 3 festival will be a great opportunity for everyone to gather, celebrate and enjoy an evening with family, friends, dinner, music, games, and various attractions. Food trucks will be available on-site. Further details will be available soon on the Park District website.
The City will host a remembrance in the morning of July 4, 2025 to honor the memories of the people whose lives were taken and share solidarity with those who were injured or traumatized. Further details will be shared when available. The temporary memorial, located in the Rose Garden adjacent to City Hall (1707 St. Johns Avenue), will continue to be open to the public. Visitors who may be concerned about re-traumatization from patriotic décor, floats, etc. related to the parade itself may wish to avoid visiting the memorial on July 4 between 10am-2pm as parade staging is anticipated to begin at 10:30am.
What’s your dream team? This year’s parade theme is a celebration of all that brings us together. Whether that’s family or friends, sports, dance, faith, community or neighborhood, tap into team spirit as Highland Park’s community-focused parade returns to Downtown Highland Park! The parade will follow the same route as 2024, beginning at First St. & Laurel Ave. and progressing through Downtown Highland Park to Sunset Woods Park. Parade participants and attendees are encouraged to wear team jerseys and apparel, and floats will celebrate the colors and mascots of favorite teams and organizations. Parade participation sign-ups will begin on Monday, March 3, 2025. Information will be available at cityhpil.com/independenceday when available.
Please note that there will not be a City or Park District-sponsored evening event on Independence Day. Information regarding Independence Day activities will be shared by both the City and Park District as planning continues. Updates from the City are available at cityhpil.com, and updates from the Park District are available at pdhp.org. Individuals are welcome to share their feedback via email to the City at [email protected].
Winter is Here!
The Park District endeavors to keep our facilities and programs operating whenever possible. However, there are times when weather, road conditions, or facility malfunctions dictate that programs and/or services must be cancelled or temporarily postponed or entire facilities closed.
In order to provide employees and patrons with a safe and secure environment in which to work and play, the Park District reserves the right to close a particular facility or cancel a program using the following criteria:
Because weather, including air quality and road conditions, can change dramatically as the day progresses, the Park District will monitor weather conditions and announce closing updates throughout the day. Communication regarding any weather-related closings and updates will be posted on the homepage of this website and the Park District Facebook page. Email updates are sent to customers who have subscribed to the Park District email list.
The Park District of Highland Park is excited to announce that on January 15, the Park Board of Commissioners approved construction for a new recreation facility at West Ridge Park. Construction is scheduled to begin in March.
The new recreation facility will replace the existing West Ridge Center, and will feature:
The innovative building design will maximize space efficiency and blend seamlessly into the park, offering flexible, inclusive, and functional rooms for recreational services. After the new building is operational, the current West Ridge Center will be demolished.
NO CHANGE TO WEST RIDGE CENTER PROGRAMS
All programs at West Ridge Center will continue as scheduled through 2025. We do not anticipate any disruption to recreation programs during the transition to the new recreation facility.
NEW PARKING LOT ORIENTATION
Construction fencing is expected to be installed in March 2025. Once installed, the orientation of the south parking lot along Ridge Road will be modified.
During construction the south parking lot entrance will be restricted for construction personnel. The north parking lot entrance, formerly the exit of the lot, will become two-way traffic and will be the entrance and exit for patron use of the parking lot. Signage will be installed to assist in the transition. See map below.
PLAYGROUND, BASKETBALL, WESTERN BALLFIELD, AND MOST OF THE PATHS WILL REMAIN OPEN
The park areas outside of the construction fencing will remain open for patron use. See map below.
GYMNASTICS PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE AT CENTENNIAL ICE ARENA
The Park District is excited to announce the future introduction of a 10,000-square-foot gymnastics gym to the community. The new gymnastics gym is over double the size of the existing gym at Centennial Ice Arena providing expanded opportunities to the community. Gymnastics programs will continue at Centennial Ice Arena until officially announced otherwise.
The project is on track to reach completion by Spring 2026. Toward the end of 2025 the Park District will share detailed information about the transition to the New Recreation Facility.
Turn off your screen and turn on LIFE! Screen Break Week is celebrated every year in the first week of May. This week, celebrated all over the world, is an invitation for everyone — children, adults, and entire communities — to switch off completely from staring at screens and take a well-deserved break. We are offering a variety of events this week.
All events are free but registration is required.
Celebrate May the Fourth with a Star Wars-themed family bike event! Bring and decorate your bikes, strollers and scooters and embrace the Star Wars theme. Supplies will be provided, but participants are also encouraged to bring their own creative materials to make their modes of transportation truly out of this galaxy! After decorating, take part in a fun, family-friendly ride along our designated route. Perfect for kids ages 3+ and their families!
Ages 3+ with an adult
Location: Wayne Thomas Elementary School (2939 Summit Drive)
Mini golf at Highland Park’s Rivers Edge for ages 5+ (must be accompanied by an adult): Bring your enthusiasm and join us for a memorable day of laughter, camaraderie, and a “hole” lot of fun!
Location: River’s Edge Mini Golf (2205 Skokie Valley Road)
Perfect for parents, grandparents, and caregivers, this community event invites you to take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Preserve of Highland Park with your little ones in strollers.
All Ages
Location: The Preserve of Highland Park (1207 Park Ave West)
Hike with a Naturalist at Heller Nature Center for all ages. Find the beauty in spring with a guided hike from a Heller Naturalist. Discover spring ephemerals, bird calls, and more as the forest re-awakens during spring.
Location: Heller Nature Center (2821 Ridge Road)
Chalk-a-Palooza at West Ridge Park for all ages: Unleash your colorful creativity on a sidewalk canvas!
All Ages (ages 2-8 must be accompanied by an adult)
Location: West Ridge Center (636 Ridge Road)
Open Swim at the Recreation Center for all ages: Put on your swimsuits, and dive into some Aquatic fun!
All Ages (ages 2-12 with an adult)
Location: Recreation Center of Highland Park (1207 Park Avenue West)
Shoot some hoops at the Recreation Center of Highland Park!
All Ages: (Ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult)
Location: Recreation Center of Highland Park (1207 Park Avenue West)
